NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot's 2017 National Small Business Week message.

TL;DR

NASA recognizes the importance of small businesses, with more than 99% of firms in America falling under this category, and actively promotes their participation through various initiatives.

Transcript

I invite the entire NASA family to celebrate this year's Small Business Week April 30th through May 6. Small Businesses are critical to our mission and we salute their hard work and dedication. 99.9% of all firms in America are considered small businesses and across NASA your colleagues are helping to ensure that the contribution of these partners ... Read More

Key Insights

• 👨‍💼 Small businesses are critical to NASA's mission, and the agency actively supports them through various initiatives.
• 👨‍💼 NASA recognizes individuals and teams who have made significant contributions to developing best practices for working with small businesses.
• 🙍‍♀️ Small businesses received over $5.2 billion in contracts from NASA, with a focus on increasing engagement with women-owned, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and minority-serving institutions.
• 👨‍💼 The agency has consistently exceeded its small business subcontracting goals since 2008.
• 👨‍💼 NASA is actively promoting small business awareness and participation through innovative techniques in targeted areas.
• 💁 The Office of Small Business Programs mobile app provides information on events, contract listings, and contact information for NASA's small business team.
• 🙍‍♀️ Engagement with women-owned small businesses has seen an increase in the past three fiscal years.

Questions & Answers

Q: How does NASA support small businesses and recognize their contributions?

NASA supports small businesses through initiatives like Small Business Week and the Small Business Advocates Award, which acknowledges innovative efforts in working with small businesses.

Q: How much funding did small businesses receive from NASA last year?

Small businesses received over $5.2 billion in contracts from NASA in the previous fiscal year, with $2.7 billion going towards prime contracts.

Q: How has NASA increased its engagement with women-owned small businesses?

Over the past three fiscal years, NASA has increased its percentage of women-owned small businesses from 3.3% to 4.05%, actively promoting their participation and opportunities within the agency.

Q: How is NASA expanding its engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority-serving institutions?

NASA has initiated the NASA HBCU MSI technology and fusion road tour, actively increasing its engagement with Historically Black Colleges and Universities and minority-serving institutions through new avenues.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA celebrates Small Business Week and acknowledges the vital role small businesses play in achieving its mission.

• The agency recognizes individuals and teams who have made innovative contributions to developing best practices for working with small businesses.

• Small businesses received over $5.2 billion in contracts from NASA last year, with a focus on increasing engagement with women-owned, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, and minority-serving institutions.